Pastor Jake Porter

Jake Porter, a sixth-generation Mont Belvieu resident and class of 2000 graduate of Barbers Hill High School, was called to serve as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in March of 2004.

Jake graduated from Elmira College in Elmira, New York in the spring of 2004, receiving a B.A. degree, Magna Cum Laude, with triple majors in psychology, music, and philosophy and religion. While working on his undergraduate degree, Jake also had the opportunity to study theology at L’Abri Institute in Huemoz, Switzerland and the spiritual disciplines with the monks of Taize, an ecumenical monastery in France.

In 2010, he graduated with a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Havard School for Theological Studies in Houston. In the summer of 2005, he studied at Oxford University with other seminary students. Jake is now working toward the completion of a PhD in Biblical Spirituality and Christian Ethics from the the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a member of American Mensa.

Jake’s interests include reading and current events. He enjoys eating and loves just about any food put before him. His favorites are fried oysters and chocolate (not together, of course). Among his favorite musicians are Third Day, David Crowder Band, the Eagles, Johnny Cash, and Verdi. At the church Christmas party every winter, Jake takes pride in being a serious competitor in the Spoons tournament.

Proclaiming the transforming Good News of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Word of God is the passion of Jake’s life. He believes that only Christ has the power to bring life out of death and make all things new. It is his greatest desire to see people begin to love and live boldly for God.

Life verse: “I do not count my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)